The label “Cafeteria Christian,” was coined to describe people who pick and choose the beliefs and rituals they like in a religion, while leaving out others. I understand your frustration over this trend.

The problem is that EVERY Christian is a “cafeteria Christian”, as the author is forced to admit. Many of the teachings in the Bible are insane, according to the author, and must be discarded:

Many people leave behind on the theological cafeteria line the old teachings about the role of women, the condemnation of homosexuality, teachings prohibiting certain forms of birth control, and dietary laws in favor of vegetarianism. Old religious teachings in some places justified slavery and discrimination, and leaving such teachings behind was a good thing.

The amazing thing is that Chistians look at the insanity and deny that it as insanity. For example, the idea that a magical being in the sky answers prayers is insane. Most “Cafeteria Christians” accept it nonetheless. The idea that a man rose from the dead is insane. Most “Cafeteria Christians” accept it nonetheless. Most Christians retain the homophobia and use their “god” to justify it. These beliefs that they accept are just as insane as slavery.

Because the bigotries that remain are still somewhat socially acceptable. Slavery isn’t.

on 23 Jun 2009 at 7:03 am 2.JR said …

How cowardly, you can’t even take on my opinions that say negative things about YOUR opinions…saying it’s a spam

on 23 Jun 2009 at 7:04 am 3.JR said …

I think your just an insecure person >.……<

What’s so insane about believing someone has risen from the dead? Or that someone more powerful than us exist anyway? HAVE you already died and seen what you become after your death? Have been through every nook and cranny of the earth and the deepest part of the ocean? If you haven’t then you haven’t got a right to decide that GOD doesn’t exist. You are just a human like me who knows NOTHING.

on 23 Jun 2009 at 7:54 am 4.Miyu said …

Your so-called proofs…to someone who isn’t really devoted…could be believable but…most of your proof are the very questions I posed to my father when I was just a young girl….nothing to it…have you ever tried seeing things in our perspective before? If you haven’t then you’ll obviously won’t see why we believe even without scientific proof…whatever you think of us, we think the same to you…

True, our religion isn’t exactly perfect…I don’t believe any religion is perfect …and our religion (or rather the people in charge) has done really bad things in the past but they don’t matter…what’s done is done, onward to the future.

Anyway…why would we want birth control to be accepted if we know that everyone (mostly curious teens) would start acting like bunnies in heat all the time? (They do that enough even when it’s still not accepted too) What will happen then….dignity and morals will go down the drain and there will be little difference left from being human and animal…that’s what I think anyway….

on 23 Jun 2009 at 8:46 am 5.A said …

>What’s so insane about believing someone has risen from the dead? Or that someone more powerful than us exist anyway?

It is insane because there is no evidence for any of it. These are just madeup stories.

on 23 Jun 2009 at 11:10 am 6.Xenon said …

Slavery in Biblical days was one where a man willing sold himself into service to another. Its not like slavery was in America.

Many of the commands on a women, are actually cultural graces and not intended for all cultures. Commands like “men love you wives as Christ loves the church and was willing to lay his life down for her” actually are very wise advice for those who want to make their marriage last for a lifetime. Woman are to be held in the highest esteem just as Jesus did during his time on earth.

The animal sacrifices of the ancients were also cultural and are not relevant today since it is generally understood that Christ was perfect sacrifice and sacrifices are not now needed. This was not just Hebrew culture but actually a practice of many cultures.

I think the God squad is right about American Christianity.

on 23 Jun 2009 at 3:11 pm 7.Jack said …

Can you go get a life?

on 23 Jun 2009 at 5:20 pm 8.Gregori said …

Xenu’s confusing slavery with indentured servants. They did have both back then.

on 23 Jun 2009 at 10:14 pm 9."I AM" said …

The definition of slavery was indentured servants. People who were bought as slaves also had rights.

on 24 Jun 2009 at 6:08 pm 10.anony said …

Well, looks like a christian is wrong yet again.

Israelite slaves were automatically manumitted after six years of work, and/or at the next Jubilee (occurring either every 49 or every 50 years, depending on interpretation), although the latter would not apply if the slave was owned by an Israelite and wasn’t in debt bondage[32]. Slaves released automatically in their 7th year of service, which did not include female slaves[33], or[34][35] did[36], were to be given livestock, grain, and wine, as a parting gift[37] (possibly hung round their necks[38]). This 7th-year manumission could be voluntarily renounced, which would be signified, as in other Ancient Near Eastern nations[39], by the slave gaining a ritual ear piercing[40]; after such renunciation, the individual was enslaved forever (and not released at the Jubilee[41]). Non-Israelite slaves were always to be enslaved forever, and treated as inheritable property[42].

Check the last sentence there. They had both, just like Greg said. From Wikipedia, fourth paragraph from the top. Only Israelite slaves were treated like that, non-Israelites were enslaved forever.

44 And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have—from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.

45 Moreover you may buy the children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property.

46 And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor.

on 30 Jun 2009 at 6:44 pm 12.A servant of Christ said …

atheist are simply people that do not understand the Bible and faith.

no Christian should pic and chose what they want to believe, the Bible is Clear on what we should do.

as for the “old ways” aka the “Law” which was the fist covenant, Hebrews 8:13 say: “By calling this covenant “new”, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

also in Ephesians 2:14-15 “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.

on 30 Jun 2009 at 10:46 pm 13.Lou said …

Servent, what is with this “not knowing” accusation? Look, there is no “new covenent.” You are required to follow the law in its entirety. (Being god’s law, you’d think you wouldn’t have to update it, ya know?)

1) “For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19 RSV) Clearly the Old Testament is to be abided by until the end of human existence itself. None other then Jesus said so.

2) All of the vicious Old Testament laws will be binding forever. “It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid.” (Luke 16:17 NAB)

3) Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets. He hasn’t the slightest objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” (Matthew 5:17 NAB)

3b) “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16 NAB)

3c) “Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God.” (2 Peter 20-21 NAB)

4) Jesus criticizes the Jews for not killing their disobedient children according to Old Testament law. Mark.7:9-13 “Whoever curses father or mother shall die” (Mark 7:10 NAB)

5) Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for not washing his hands before eating. He defends himself by attacking them for not killing disobedient children according to the commandment: “He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.” (Matthew 15:4-7)

6) Jesus has a punishment even worse than his father concerning adultery: God said the act of adultery was punishable by death. Jesus says looking with lust is the same thing and you should gouge your eye out, better a part, than the whole. The punishment under Jesus is an eternity in Hell. (Matthew 5:27)

7) Peter says that all slaves should “be subject to [their] masters with all fear,” to the bad and cruel as well as the “good and gentle.” This is merely an echo of the same slavery commands in the Old Testament. 1 Peter 2:18

8) “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law” (John7:19) and “For the law was given by Moses,…” (John 1:17).

Leave a Reply

Name (or enter "anonymous")

Mail (optional)(will not be published)

Website (optional)

Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page.Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.